Bill of Rights

Title of Lesson: Bill of Rights
Audience: Small group of 7th grade ENL students

Common Core Standards: 7.5 THE CONSTITUTION IN PRACTICE: The United States Constitution serves as the foundation of the United States government and outlines the rights of citizens. The Constitution is considered a living document that can respond to political and social changes. The New York State Constitution also has been changed over time.

7.5b The Constitution established three branches of government as well as a system of checks and balances that guides the relationship between the branches. Individual rights of citizens are addressed in the Bill of Rights.

• Students will compare and contrast the powers granted to Congress, the president, and the Supreme Court by the Constitution.
• Students will examine how checks and balances work by tracing how a bill becomes a law.
• Students will identify the individual rights of citizens that are protected by the Bill of Rights.

Lesson Plan (Procedure, Grouping, Strategies)
1.Brief discussion on Government
2.Hand out Anticipation Guide (Pre-reading strategy) on the Bill of Rights

• Students look over statements on Anticipation Guide and select whether they agree or disagree with the statements individually
• Then in small groups, students discuss their results and select whether they agree or disagree with the statements as a group (collaborative group work strategy)

3.Present video (youtube, teachertube, etc) about Constitution and Bill of Rights
4.Students read short passages about the Bill of Rights with their groups
5.Group members revisit the Anticipation Guide on the Bill of Rights and reevaluate the statements after gaining more information
6.Class discussion discussing results of Anticipation Guide
7.Group members work on a project of creating and designing their own flowcharts or visuals about the Bill of Rights (Project Based Learning)

• Group members use technology (either creately, lucid charts or mapmyself) to design and create flowcharts, mind maps or any other visuals describing the freedoms of each of the amendments of the Bill of Rights and examples of how each freedom is used in today's society
• Groups share their visuals with the class

Technology:
Videos - youtube, teachertube, etc
http://creately.com/
https://www.lucidchart.com/
http://mapul.com/

Materials:
Anticipation Guide on the Bill of Rights
Videos
Short passages on the Bill of Rights
Pencils
Chromebooks, or other computer devices